Australia, New Zealand & South Pacific travel guides

Whether you want to chase waterfalls in Aotearoa New Zealand, take a coastal road trip through Australia, island hop in the Pacific, or enjoy an extended Antipodean adventure, my detailed itineraries and destination guides will help you travel smarter, stress less and have the time of your life.

Posts by country & region

Australia
New Zealand
Fiji

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Kickstart your adventure with my absolute best resources for the region. Whether you’re mapping out a New Zealand road trip or looking for Australian travel tips, these guides are your essential toolkit.

Top Australia & New Zealand itineraries

If you’re at the start of your travel planning journey, these epic itineraries will help you figure out where to go, how long to spend in each spot, and how to make it all fit together while maximising your time and money.

Aerial view showcasing the Gold Coast's impressive high-rise buildings aligned along the beautiful coastline, extending towards the horizon with clear skies above

FAQs

Australasia is a subregion of Oceania, usually referring to Australia, New Zealand and the island of New Guinea.

Oceania on the other hand includes Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea as well as Micronesia (Palau, Nauru etc.), Melanesia (Fiji, Vanuatu etc.) and Polynesia (Rarotonga, Tahiti etc.)

Nope! New Zealand is a completely separate country with its own government, currency and identity.

Yes, but distances are longer than you might expect and you’ll almost always need to fly.

There are loads of direct flights between cities in Australia and New Zealand, as well as flights to Pacific Islands like Fiji, Samoa and Rarotonga from major hubs in Australia (Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns etc.) or NZ (Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch etc.).

Cruises also connect Australia, New Zealand and some Pacific Islands but they’re slow and expensive, so they’re not worth it just as a way to get from A to B.

There are no international ferries in Oceania, it’s not like Europe where you hop across borders by boat in a matter of hours. Some island nations have local ferry services, but rough sea conditions and strict border controls mean wider ferry networks just aren’t practical.

It depends on your passport and where you’re going.

  • Australia requires an ETA (Electronic Travel Authority) or visitor visa for most travellers
  • New Zealand requires an NZeTA or visitor visa
  • Pacific Island visa requirements vary, some are visa-free or allow visa on arrival, some require visas to be organised before your trip

Always check official immigration sites for each country for up to date information based on your passport.

If you’re a citizen of either country then you can move between Australia and New Zealand to visit, study or work with minimal bureaucracy. There are still hard borders, strict customs controls and about 2000km of water separating them though, so it’s not like the free movement you get in Europe’s Schengen Zone.

If you’re not a citizen of either, you’ll need to meet the entry rules for both countries individually.

The only realistic non-flight option is a cruise, there are lots that include both Australia and New Zealand on their itinerary.

Private vessels can make the journey too with the correct documentation, but it’s around 2000km of open ocean and conditions can be challenging, so it’s something you have to plan and prepare for well in advance.